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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to expenditures made by emergency services districts. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 775.073, Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 775.073. EXPENDITURES [METHOD OF PAYMENT]. (a) |
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Except as otherwise provided by this section, district [District] |
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funds may be disbursed only by check, draft, order, or other |
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instrument that is signed by at least a majority of the board's |
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commissioners [the treasurer and countersigned by the president.
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If the treasurer is absent or unavailable, the assistant treasurer
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may sign for the treasurer. If the president is absent or
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unavailable, the vice president may sign for the president]. |
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(b) The board by resolution may allow the district fire |
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chief, treasurer, bookkeeper, or other district employee to sign an |
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instrument to disburse district funds. An expenditure of more than |
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$2,000 may not be paid [from tax money] unless [a sworn itemized
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account covering] the expenditure is presented to the board and the |
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board approves the expenditure. |
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(c) The board may authorize the disbursement of district |
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funds transferred by federal reserve wire system. The board by |
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resolution may authorize wire transfers to accounts in the |
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district's name or accounts not in the district's name. |
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(d) Any property purchased or leased using district funds |
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must remain the property of the district, regardless of whether the |
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property is used by a third party under a contract for services or |
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otherwise, until: |
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(1) the property is sold to a third party following the |
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procedures authorized under Section 263.003, 263.007, or 263.008, |
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Local Government Code; or |
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(2) the property is disposed of in accordance with |
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Subchapter J. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |